Oil burner



w. R. RAY. ou BURNER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. l. i919.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- zg/iwf# ATTORN EY uNi'rED STA-'rss PATENT OFFICE.l

WILLIAM R. RAY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

OIL BURNER.'

Application ined Aprii 1,

T all wiomt't may concern.'

Be ,it known that I, VILLIAM R. RAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at thel city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in @il Burners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to oil burners, and particularly to improvements on the structure shown and described in my copending application entitled Oil burner, filed January 15th, 1919, Serial No. 271,287.

Une of the objects of the present invention is to provide a turbine driven oil burner of the rotary type in which the oil is ejected and atomized by the combined action of centrifugal force, steam and air, and particularly a mechanism whereby the air employed is induced by an annular steain-actuated nozzle arranged exterior of the oil atomizer.

Another object of the invention is to pros vide a novel form of bearing member forI the support of the centrifugal atomizer and the turbine driving the same, and particularly Va packing arrangement for retaining the lubricant employed.

Further objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more| fully described and claimed, having reference to the acmpanying drawings,iii which- F ig. 1 is a central, vertical, longitudinal section through the burner.

F ig. 2 is a front view of the burner.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of F ig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates in general a centrifugal atomizer by means of which the oil is centrifugally projected and atoinized, 2 an annular air nozzle surrounding the same, 3 a hollow shaft by which the atomizer is carried, 4t a bearing member supporting the hollow shaft and B a turbine by which the shaft and the atomizei carried thereby are driven. While any suitable form of steam or' air driven turbine may be employed, T have, in this instance, shown the turbine which consists of a rotor 5 keyed or otherwise secured on the shaft 3. This rotor is enclosed by a housing 6 provided with a permanent head i' in which is formed an annular steam chest S. Formed in the inner wall of the steam chest Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

1919. serial No. 28s,754.

at a point adjacent the blades 9 of the turbine is a series of angularly disposed nozzle openings 10. These nozzles project the steam at high velocity against the blades of the rotor, thus causing them, together with the shaft supporting the atomizer A, to revolve at high speed, in actual practice, between three and four thousand revolutions, and, in some instances, considerably more.

The steam after iinpnging on the blades of the rotor passes outwardly into an interior chamber 11 formedwithin the casing and is then discharged through a suitable outlet, the live or high pressure steam being admitted to the chest 8 through pipe 13. i

F or the purpose of delecting the steam and throwing it outwardly into the chamber llvafter it has passed through the blades of the rotor, I provide a deecting disk let. This deflector may be formed integral with the rotor or otherwise secured thereto. It therefore revolves in unison with the rotor and shaft and the high speed obtained serves the function of centrifugally projecting the steam into the chamber 11, thereby reducing leakage to a minimum and eliminating stuffL ing boxes of any nature.

AThe turbine as a whole is here shown as secured to a head member 15 in which is formed a central chamber 16, said head member being in turn secured by means of bolts 17 tothe front end of the bearing inember el. The head member 15 serves two functions: first, that of an intermediate spacing member between the turbine and the bearing +L to reduce heat conduction to a minimum. and, secondly, that of a circulating member through which air may be forced to cool the bearing. This is accomplished by securing an annular iiange 18 exterior of the head 15 which deflects the air inwardly, as indicated b v the arrows. This air enters the chamber 16 through a plurality of radially disposed openings 19 formed in the head, and it is here deflected into the bearing 4 through drilled openings 2i? formed in the bearing. which, in turn, communicate with a central cooling chamber 21. The bearing member is provided with two anti-friction ball races 22, one disposed at each end thereof. These ball races or bear ings support the hollow shaft 3 and the;Y aise serve as a support for the atomizer i and the rotor of the turbine.

Formed within the bearing Hietween iii). with relation to the hollon7 shaft 3 and positively serve the function of retainingthe lubricating oil delivered to the bearing and irthermore the function of preventing fuel iroin lealring into the bearing. rlhe bear ing constructed and arranged as here shown i at all times rept cool as an ample supply of lubricant is always maintained and air circulation is permitted. The nozzle 2 sur rounding the bearing member t and the itrifugal atomiz-ing cup l is, in this in e, supported by means of a braclret 27 Thich may be secured to the frame of the iace front or the door employed. lt is wise .supported centrally with relation i j el by means of a plurality of 'ese lugs are radially disposed nozzle or l members supporting the may be secured in position by the lugs r. l r may be further supported by bra ...t 30 which is secured in a kilar to bracket 27. il perfect 7ed thus obtained. e oil to be atomized and burnt is, in instance, delivereti to the cup by means into the head i" of the turbine and supported thereby. @il is deliyerechto Ythe pipe from any suitable source of supply, either by gravity How or under s 'ght pressure, and discharges into 'the atomizing cup l J`irough a large slot1 32 formed in the foriI` d end of the pipe, this end ot the pipe being otherwise closed by means of a cap 33 which is provided 'with an annular flange to permit an even distribution of the oil delivered to the cup. .For the purpose oi further atomizingthe oil which is centrifugally projected by means bf the atomizing cup A, l; provide a steam nozzle C. This nozzle is provided with an annular chamber B5 which entirely surrounds the outer end of the nozzle 2. rllhe forward end of this chamber terminates in an annular opening which is considerably inclined when comparing it with the longitudinal airis of the shaft (Steam is admitted to the chamber 35 through a pipe and discharges in an annular blast at a point adjacent the discharge end of the atomizing cup. The steam thus discharging serves two functions, tiret, that of producing port and alinement of the ffiiferent parts of a stationary pipe 5l. This pipe is screwedv a secondary atomizing effect by further breaking up the oil which is centrifugally projected by the cup, and, secondly, that of inducing an air flow through the nozzle 2. rlhis induction action is produced by the cone-shaped steam blast discharging from the nozzle C. rlhis blast passing directly in front of the atomizing cup and the nozzle 2produces a sufiicient vacuum to induce a strong oyv of air through the nozzle. This air mixes lWith the oil and steam discharging and thereby materially assists in maintaining combustion and in producing a homogeneous combustible mixture before actual com bustion takes place.

By referring to Figs. l and 3 it will be seen that a considerable number of tubes 38 are arranged in circular formation Within the nozzle 2. The annular steam blast discharging from the nozzle directly in front of said tubes induces a flow of air therethrough and it also induces a 'ilow of air through the nozzle 2 under and between the tubes 3,8. |lhe quantity of air admitted is thus materially increased and the general eiiiciency accordingly improved.

ln actual operation, when handling comparatively louT grade crude oils, it is found that a considerable portion of the saine has a tendency to crawl or creep over any surface upon which it is deposited. The oil discharging through the pipe 3 will, in actual practice, creep baclrivardly along this pipe and entirely till the space between the hollow shaft and the oil supplying pipe. This oil. when cold, has the consistency of tar or heavy asphalt andit therefore has a tendency to secure the hollow shaft against revolving when the burner is cool and first started. This objection is overcome in the present instance, as l provide means for injecting steam between the hollow7 shaft and the stationary oil supplying pipe. rl`his is accomplished by placing a needle valve l0 which passes directly through the steam chest 8. Steam delivered to the chest 8 when the valve el() is partly open will thereu tore escape into. a chamber il and will here pass between the stationary oil-supplying pipe and the hollow shaft, thus heating this annular passage and at the same time blowing out any oil deposit which may have accumulated.

rlhis valve may also be left partially open i the 4annular nozzle 35 which might have a tendency to draw the lubricating oil out of the bearing 4 is also'A prevented by the packing caps 24 and 25, as thev chambers formed bv said caps are in communication with the air cooling passages formed in t-he'bearing and in the head member l5.

By referring to- Figs. 1 and 2, it will 'be seen that the front end. of the airnozzle 2 is provided with an annular flange 45 which is considerably larger indiameter than the large end of the -air nozzle. This flange is provided for the purpose of preventing the flame produced from being drawn around the air nozzle and entering the forward end thereof. It therefore serves the function of a baffle plate and actual practice has shown that it is of considerable importance, as it positively7 prevents the flames from licking around the air nozzle and overheating the same. It will also be seen by referring to Fig. 2 that the opening for/med in the furnace front through which the burner as a whole is inserted is larger than the flange 45. An annular passage 46 is therefore provided through which air induced bynatural draft may be admitted and further support combustion within the chamber.

While a more or less specific design is here shown I wish it understood that this may be varied; similarly that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An oil burner comprising a centrifugal atomizer, means for delivering fuel thereto, means for rotating the atomizer, an air nozzle surrounding the atomizer, an annular chamber formed in the air nozzle and surrounding the centrifugal atomizer, an annular discharge opening formed the nozzle adjacent the centrifugal atomizerl and communicating with the annular chamber, means for admitting fluid under pressure to the annular chamber, and a plurality of tubes within the air nozzle, said tubes being open at both ends and surrounding the centrifugal atomizer.

2. The combination with a centrifugal atomizer of a hollow shaft supporting the same, a bearing member supporting said shaft, a fluid turbine also supported by said bearing member and adapted to transmit rotary movement to the shaft and the centrifugal atomizercarried thereby, an air nozzle surrounding the centrifugal atomizer, a fluid induction nozzle positioned at the forward end of the air nozzle adapted' to induce a flow of air through the-no-zzle, and a series of Open-ended tubes mounted interior of the air nozzle and surrounding the atomizer.

3. VThe combina-tion with a centrifugal atomizer of a hollow shaft supporting the same, a bearing member supporting said shaft, a fluid turbine also supported by saidv bearing member and adapted to transmit rotary movement to the shaft and the centrifugalfatomizer carried thereby, an air nozzle surrounding the centrifugal atomizer, a fluid induction nozzle positioned at the forward end of the air nozzle adapted to induce a flow of air through the nozzle, a series of openended tubes mounted interior of the air nozzle and surrounding the atomizer, means for delivering fuel to the centrifugal atomizer, a pair of packing caps secured on the inner end of vthe bearing member and surrounding the shaft and passages formed in the bearing member communicating at one end with a chamber formed between said caps and at the opposite end with the atmosphere. p

4. An oil burner comprising a centrifugal atomizer, a hollow shaft supporting the same, a stationary pipe extending through said shaft adapted to deliver fuel to the atomizer, a bearing member supporting the hollow shaft, a turbine lrotor secured on the shaft and adapted to rotate the same, a housingsurrounding the rotor, said housing also forming a support for the stationary fuel delivering pipe, means for admitting fluid under pressure to drive the rotor and means for admitting fluid under pressure into an annular passage formed between the stationary fuel delivering pipe and the hollow shaft.

5. An oil lburner comprising a centrifugal atomizer, a hollow shaft supporting the same, a stationary pipe extending through said shaft adapted to deliver fuel to the atomizer, a bearing member supporting the 1,05 hollow7 shaft, means for Arotating the shaft, means for forcing fluid under pressure between the annular passage formed between the stationary fuel delivering pipe and the hollow shaft, a pair of packing caps secured on the forward end of the bearing member and surrounding the shaft, a pair of annular chambers formed between the capsand the bearing member,'and means for forming a communication between said chambers and the atmosphere.

6. An oil burner comprising a centrifugal atomizer, a hollow shaft. supporting the same, a stationary pipe extending through said shaft adapted to deliver fuel vto the at- 12 omizer, a bearing member supporting the hollow shaft, a turbine rotorsecured on the shaft and adapted to rotatethe same, ahousing surrounding the rotor, said housing also y forming a support for the stationary fuel delivering pipe, means for admitting fluid under pressure to drive the rotor,.means for admittlng fluid under pressure into an annular passage formed between the stationary fuel delivering pipe and the hollow shaft, a

end of the bearing member and surrounding the shaft, aI pair of annular chambers formed between the caps and the bearing member, and means for forming a communication between said chambers and the atmosphere.

7. In a burner of the character described the combination with the centrifugal atomizer and the shaft carrying the same, of` a bearing member in which the shaft is jonrnalled and a pair of packing caps Secured on the forward end of the bearing member, said caps being interspaced to form a pair of annular chambers between the atomizer and the bearing member. y

8. In a burner of the character described the combination with the centrifugal atomizer and the shaft carrying the same, of a bearing member in which the shaft is journalled, a pair of packing caps secured on the forward end of the bearing member, said caps being interspaced to form a pair of annular chambers between the atomizel` and the bearing member, an inner and an outer annular chamber formed in the bearing member, said inner chamber serving asa lubricating reservoir and the outer as a cooling chamber, and ports formed in the bearing communicating with one of the packing cap chambers, and also With the atmosphere.

9. In a burner of the character described a centrifugal atomizer, a nozzle urrounding the same, a plurality of tubes moslinted within the nozzle and surrounding the atomizer, said tubes extending approximately from end to end of the nozzle, and means for inducing a liow of air through the tubes and the nozzles.

10. In a burner of the character described the combination with a hollow shaft anda centrifugal atomizer carried thereby, of a stationary pipe extending through the shaft and adapted to deliver fuel to the atomizer, said pipe having a smaller exterior diameter than the interior diameter of the shaft to form an annular passage between ,the same, and valve'controlled means for admitting a fluid under pressure to said annular passage.

In testimony whereof I have hereuntoset `my hand in jthe presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

WILLIAM R. RAY. Witnesses JOHN H. HERRING, W. W. HEALEY. 

